Biker, MTV Host T.J. Lavin Recovering from Tragic Wipeout

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NEW YORK - JULY 15: BMX Biker T. J. Lavin visits MTV's "TRL" at MTV Studios on July 15, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/WireImage)

Updated at 3:23 PM EDT on Thursday, Oct 21, 2010

MTV host and BMX dirt biker T.J. Lavin is showing signs of improvement as he continues to fight for his life following a devastating bike accident.

"Neuro came and spoke to T.J." wrote Lavin's mother, Barbara in text messages obtained by ESPN. "He moved his hands around and he gave the docs a thumbs up. He is not conscious. He's back on sedation to rest and minimize brain swelling.

The biking champion and host of "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" was knocked unconscious Thursday night at the Dew Tour Championships in his hometown of Las Vegas after he fell off his bike. A spokeswoman for the BMXer said he was wearing a helmet.

Lavin, 33, wiped out when a "nac-nac" combination trick went awry, suffering an orbital fracture on his eye as well as a fracture right wrist, ESPN reported.

"It looked like he kicked the seat with one foot when he was trying to get back on and the bike wasn't completely within reach," said a fellow Dew Tour competitor, Nate Berkheimer, to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I've seen him do that trick hundreds of times."

After being transported to the University Medical Center trauma center in Las Vegas, the extreme sports champ was put in a medically induced coma to relieve swelling in his brain.

The stunt was supposed to be one of Lavin's last before retirement. BMX Dirt champion Ryan Nyquist told The Review Journal that the TV host was going to call it quits soon.

"He kept making comments like, 'Well, this is my last one,' " Nyquist told the Review-Journal.

Lavin's has won two golds and one sliver medal at the X games. In addition to his 10-season run of "Real World/Road Rules Challenge," he inspired the video game, "MTV Sports: T.J. Lavin's Ultimate BMX," and is a musician.